This #GivingTuesday, Support Future Volunteer Leaders

Community is the foundation of The Mountaineers. We come together to learn, grow, and enjoy incredible transformations in the outdoors. This #GivingTuesday, we ask you to support our community by donating to The Mountaineers Access Program (MAP) scholarship fund.

This fund supports those who would not otherwise be able to participate in Mountaineers programs. MAP helps to uphold a core value of our organization: to provide opportunities for all, creating a diverse and inclusive outdoors to inspire unity, respect, and passion for the places we love.

This program is made possible through contributions from people like you. Last year, donors provided $65,000 in scholarships that made it possible for 492 youth and 52 adults to experience the wonders of the great outdoors, many for the first time. In the last two months alone, we awarded 35 scholarships totaling over $5,700 in financial support for our fellow Mountaineers. Help us continue to provide these opportunities and create a place where all feel welcome and inspired.

The Difference It Makes

"I started climbing in 2015 and soon realized I couldn’t live without mountains in my life. After graduating from the Basic Climbing Course in 2017, my heart was set on applying to Intermediate. But looking at the cost of the program, plus all the gear I’d need to purchase, I knew I couldn’t afford it. I work for a nonprofit myself, and after purchasing gear for Basic my outdoor budget was tight. I decided to apply for financial assistance to help pay for the Intermediate Climbing Course. Thankfully I received both a MAP scholarship and admission into the course for 2018. My scholarship made it possible for me to take Intermediate and fulfill my dream of leading trad climbing.

Receiving this scholarship inspired me to volunteer as much as I can to give back. As a current instructor, and (hopefully) future climb leader, I want to help others achieve their climbing dreams as well.

Because of the scholarship, I didn’t have to worry about the cost of the program. Instead, I could focus on the skills I was learning and the relationships I was building in the course. In the next year or two, I hope to become a climb leader myself. The skills I learned in Intermediate took me to the summits of Prusik Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Ingalls Peak, Sahale, South Early Winter Spire, and The Tooth. Receiving this scholarship inspired me to volunteer as much as I can to give back. As a current instructor, and (hopefully) future climb leader, I want to help others achieve their climbing dreams as well. The Mountaineers community means so much to me, and I hope to be a part of it for years to come.”